Health and pandemic preparedness
Resistant pathogens, an ageing population and missing staff meet a system already running at its limit in normal times. Preparedness is unspectacular and for exactly that reason underfunded.
What it is
Antibiotic resistance is quietly devaluing one of medicine's most effective achievements.
Why now
Knowledge from the last pandemic is decaying and structures are being dismantled before they were ever evaluated.
Levers
Wastewater and pathogen surveillance, vaccine platforms held in readiness, attractive care professions, research use of health data with strong protection, stockpiles and rehearsed emergency plans.